FR3069991A1 - METHOD FOR CREATING AND PARTICIPATING IN AN AUDIO OR VIDEO CONFERENCE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention proposes a method for creating an audio or video conference and for authorizing participants to join the conference, implemented by a system comprising a server and at least one terminal comprising a microphone, the terminal further being suitable for communicate with the server via a communication network, the method comprising the steps of: - creation by the server of an audio or video conference, the conference being associated with a unique identifier, - connection of at least one terminal to the conference audio or video, characterized in that the unique identifier of the audio or video conference comprises at least two words, and in that the connection of the terminal to the audio or video conference comprises: - the establishment of a connection between the terminal and the server, - a recording, by the microphone of the terminal, of a voice sequence of a user of the terminal, - the transcription of the voice sequence into text, and - the comparison, by the server, of the text with at least least a conference identifier, and - if the text corresponds to the identifier of a conference, the connection of the terminal to the conference.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method for creating an audio or video conference, and for authorizing joining the conference. The invention also relates to an audio or video conference management server, as well as a terminal which can communicate with the server to request the creation of a conference and / or join a conference.

STATE OF THE ART

An audio or video conference brings together several users, each equipped with a terminal, in a single session allowing users to chat with each other.

Typically, a person wishing to set up a conference can use dedicated software, which creates a conference and can send participants an invitation containing the date and time scheduled for the conference, as well as a telephone number to call or a URL address. to join to access the conference, and if necessary a password allowing access to the conference.

To access the conference, each participant must find the invitation, dial the number or follow the URL address indicated, then optionally provide the password in response to an invitation sent to them beforehand.

In the event that a participant wants to invite another participant not initially planned, he must communicate to him both the number or the url address, then the password, which is generally composed of a series of numbers and letters for provide secure access to the conference.

The fact for a participant to connect therefore comprises a succession of steps requiring high attention. If the password and / or number or url to connect to the conference is lost, connection is impossible.

There is therefore a need to simplify access to an audio or video conference.

In this regard, a document can be installed in document US 9,401,938 which can be installed on a mobile terminal, which is suitable for aggregating, from the calendar stored in the mobile terminal, a list of conferences planned for the user of the terminal, and to display this list by allowing the user to choose a conference from the displayed list.

This solution allows a user to access a conference more simply, but remains restrictive for users wishing to access the conference because it remains imperative to use the number or the url allowing access to the conference, as well as the password associate. These items must also be passed to a user who does not have an invitation and who wants to connect to the conference.

It has also been proposed in document US Pat. No. 8,744,421 to pre-register, in a vehicle, conference access codes.

During a request to connect a user to a conference call, the user being in his vehicle, a voice recognition feature of the vehicle is used to interpret an access code request sent by the conference call service when the participant dials to connect to the conference.

Then, in response to this request for an access code, the access code is automatically sent by the electronics on board the vehicle to the conference call service. In one case, the access code may have been previously pronounced by the user, and detected and recorded by the vehicle's voice recognition functionality.

This other solution simplifies the access to a conference call by an occupant of a vehicle by postponing the step requiring the attention of the occupant, which consists in formulating the access code, before establishing the connection to the conference. However, it is still necessary to access the access code and the number for joining the conference call.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art, by proposing a simplified means of joining a conference call.

An object of the invention is in particular to facilitate access to a conference call by a user, while maintaining this secure access.

Another object of the invention is to be able to be implemented easily on any type of telephony device.

In this regard, the subject of the invention is a method for creating an audio or video conference and authorizing participants to join the conference, implemented by a system comprising a server and at least one terminal comprising a microphone, the terminal being further adapted to communicate with the server via a communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

- creation by the server of an audio or video conference, the conference being associated with a unique identifier,

connection of at least one terminal to the audio or video conference, characterized in that the unique identifier of the audio or video conference comprises at least two words, and in that the connection of the terminal to the audio or video conference comprises :

- establishing a connection between the terminal and the server,

- a recording, by the microphone of the terminal, of a voice sequence of a user of the terminal,

- the transcription of the vocal sequence into text, and

- the comparison, by the server, of the text with at least one conference identifier, and

- if the text corresponds to the identifier of a conference, the connection of the terminal to the conference.

Advantageously, but optionally, the method according to the invention can also comprise at least one of the following characteristics:

- each word in the unique conference identifier can be drawn at random from a word library.

Advantageously, the conference can be created on reception by the server of a request from a terminal.

- In one embodiment, the conference identifier is valid for a fixed period.

- In another embodiment, the identifier is of permanent validity, and said identifier comprises a sentence of more than two words. In this case, the method can include, before the creation of the conference by the server, a step of sending a request to create a conference by a terminal to the server, the request further comprising an identifier proposed by the terminal, and the step of creation of the conference by the server further comprises a verification, by the server, of the availability of the proposed identifier, and, if the proposed identifier is available, the association of the proposed identifier with the conference.

- In certain embodiments, the terminal can further comprise a loudspeaker, and the method comprises a step of sending a request to create a conference by a terminal to the server, and a step of communicating the identifier of the conference at the terminal by the server, in which the identifier is converted into a sound track stating the two words, and broadcast by the loudspeaker of the terminal.

- In addition, the identifier can be converted into a sound track by the server, and said sound track can be transmitted by the server to the terminal.

- Advantageously, each connection from a terminal to the conference is established in VolP.

The invention also relates to an audio or video conference management server, comprising:

- a memory in which is stored a library of words,

- a computer,

at least one interface for communication with user terminals by at least one communication network, the server being adapted for:

- transpose a voice sequence from a user of a terminal into text,

- compare the text with at least one conference identifier comprising at least two words included in the word library, and

- connect the terminal to a conference if the text corresponds to the conference identifier.

Advantageously, but optionally, the server according to the invention can also include at least one of the following characteristics:

the server is adapted to generate an audio or video conference associated with a unique identifier comprising at least two words included in the word library.

- the server is further adapted to generate a unique conference identifier by random selection of two words chosen from the word library, and to convert the identifier into a sound track.

The invention also relates to a computer program product, comprising code instructions for implementing a method for creating an audio or video conference, and code instructions for implementing a method. participation in an audio or video conference, when each method is implemented by a processor of a terminal, the conference creation method comprising:

- sending a request to create a conference to a server,

- the reception of a conference identifier comprising at least two words, and

- the display of the words of the identifier on a screen of the terminal or the reading of a sound track stating the words of the identifier by a loudspeaker of the terminal, and the method of participating in a conference comprising:

- the recording of a voice sequence by a microphone of the terminal,

- connecting to the server and sending said voice sequence to the server.

Finally, the invention also relates to an audio or video conference terminal, comprising:

- a speaker,

a microphone, and the audio or video conference terminal being adapted to connect to a server via a communication network, and being configured to implement a method of creating an audio or video conference comprising:

- sending a request to create a conference to a server,

- the reception of a conference identifier comprising at least two words, and

the display of the words of the identifier on a screen of the terminal or the reading of a sound track stating the words of the identifier by a loudspeaker of the terminal, and and to implement a method of participation in a conference including:

- the recording of a voice sequence by a microphone of the terminal,

- connecting to the server and sending said voice sequence to the server.

Advantageously, but optionally, the terminal according to the invention can also comprise a first command interface, configured so that its activation triggers the sending of a request to create a conference to a server, and a second command interface, configured so that its activation triggers the steps of recording a voice sequence, connecting to the server and sending said voice sequence to the server.

The method according to the invention allows a user to easily connect to an audio or video conference while retaining access to this secure conference.

Indeed, each conference is associated with a unique identifier comprising at least two words. The advantages of using two or more words are that these words are easy to understand and therefore remember, as a conference access code. They can also be easily transmitted from one user to another by any type of communication, whether by speech, or sms, etc.

In addition, the user just needs to use their terminal to dial a single connection number to the conference management server, and to say the two words, to be connected to the conference that concerns them. A conference is therefore identified only by its identifier, and it is not necessary to provide in addition a specific number or url address. It is also not necessary to provide other interfaces on the terminal than a microphone and a loudspeaker, elements which are also necessarily present since they are essential for implementing a call.

Security of access to the conference is ensured by drawing a new pun at random from a sufficiently large word library. The draw takes place at each conference creation and is valid as long as there is one person left in the virtual room. If you want to further increase security while retaining the ability to easily remember the conference ID, it can include a series of words forming a sentence. In this case it is possible to create a permanent virtual room in which users with the passphrase can join at any time.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other characteristics, objects and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, which is purely illustrative and not limiting, and which should be read with reference to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 shows an example of a computer system in which a method for creating or joining an audio or video conference can be implemented.

FIGS. 2a and 2b respectively represent the implementation of a method for creating an audio or video conference, and the implementation of a method for joining said conference,

- Figure 3 shows an example of audio or video conference terminal according to one embodiment of the invention.

- Figure 4 shows an example of software application for creating or joining an audio or video conference.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AT LEAST ONE EMBODIMENT

Referring to Figure 1, an example of a computer system is shown in which an audio or video conference can be created.

The computer system includes at least one audio or video conference management server 1. The server 1 is suitable for creating an audio or video conference, which can be associated with a telephone number (in the case of a conference call) or with a URL address, and for associating with the conference a unique identifier described more in detail. details below.

The server 1 comprises a computer 10, which can for example be a processor or microprocessor, or a controller or microcontroller. The computer 10 is adapted to execute code instructions making it possible to generate a conference call associated with an identifier and to connect a terminal to a conference, according to the description which follows.

The server 1 also comprises an interface 11 for communication with user terminals via at least one communication network 2. This communication interface 11 can be of various nature depending on the user terminals provided for connecting to the server. Advantageously, this interface comprises at least one interface 11a for connection to the internet 2a, and may further comprise at least one interface 11b for connection to a mobile telephone network (GSM, GPRS) 2b, and at least one interface 11c for connection to a wired telephone network 2c.

The server also comprises (or as a variant, can be connected to) a memory 12 in which a word database is recorded, comprising for example at least 500 words of the same language, preferably at least 1000 words of a same language. Optionally, the database can include several sets of words from different languages, each set comprising at least 500 words. This makes the conference call service accessible to users of different nationalities.

The computer system further comprises at least one user terminal 3, adapted to connect to the server 1 via a network.

The user terminal 3 comprises at least one microphone 30, a speaker 31, and a communication interface (not shown) with the server 1 via the network.

According to one embodiment, the user terminal can be a standard telephone, wired to the wired telephone network 2c.

As a variant, the user terminal 3 can be a mobile telephone, connected to the server 1 by the mobile telephone network 2b.

The user terminal 3 can also be equipped with an internet connection and be connected to the server by internet 2a.

According to a preferred example, the user terminal can be adapted to implement the TCP / IP protocol to connect to a conference call by VoIP technology (for Voice over IP), making it possible to communicate by voice over the internet. Indeed VoIP technology allows a better quality of voice than in traditional telephony.

This VoIP terminal can be a mobile phone using the Internet to connect to the conference, or a conference phone, dedicated to the use of audio or video conferences.

With reference to FIG. 2a, an example of an audio or video conference creation method will now be described.

During a step 100, the conference management server 1 creates an audio or video conference and associates with it a unique identifier comprising at least two words, that is to say a text sequence formed by at least two words pulled from server memory 1.

The conference creation step 100 follows a conference creation request 90 sent by a user terminal to the server 1.

In one embodiment, the conference is temporary, that is, the audio or video conference is a place reserved on a telephone line or at a URL address, for a finite period of time. In this case, the server 1 advantageously generates the unique identifier of the conference in step 100, in response to the request. Once the conference is over, the location on the same phone line can be used to generate a new conference associated with another unique identifier.

Then, the unique identifier associated with this conference has a fixed validity period, for example equal to 10 minutes, or 5 minutes.

In this case also, the unique identifier advantageously comprises a reduced number of words, for example exactly two words, so that it can be easily remembered and quickly repeated by a user. The words are advantageously drawn randomly from the word library stored in the memory 12 of the server, so as to increase the confidentiality of the identifier and therefore the security of access to the conference.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the conference 100 can be a virtual room of permanent validity, to which users can connect at any time.

In this case, the unique conference identifier is a sentence, of permanent validity, comprising more words than a unique identifier for a conference of limited duration. Indeed, to compensate for the decrease in security of the identifier linked to its permanent nature, a greater number of words makes it possible to reduce the probability of finding the sentence to access the conference.

This unique identifier is then preferably chosen by the user, and communicated by the user during the step 90 of sending a request to the server 1, either by being spoken orally by the user, or by being transmitted in writing. , for example via a dedicated application or website. In this embodiment, the conference creation step 100 includes a verification by the server of the availability of the sentence sent by the user. If the identifier is available, server 1 creates the virtual room and associates the identifier with it. Otherwise, the server 1 can return to the user who sent the conference creation request a message inviting him to send a new identifier.

Once the conference has been created, the identifier of the conference can be communicated by the server 1 to a mobile terminal 3 during a step 110. This communication of the identifier can constitute confirmation by the server of the creation of the virtual room, or alternatively may be accompanied by an explicit confirmation of the creation of the virtual room.

In the event that a conference creation request 90 has been sent by a mobile terminal 3, the same terminal receives the identifier in response.

Advantageously, the words forming the identifier of the conference are broadcast by the loudspeaker 31 of the mobile terminal 3. In this case, the step 110 of communicating the identifier comprises a conversion 111 of the words into a sound track, this conversion preferably being performed by the server, sending 112 of the sound track by the server to the mobile terminal 3, and reading 113 of the sound track by the speaker 31. This makes it possible to reduce the necessary attention of the user and also makes it easy to remember the identifier without having to read it.

As a variant, if the terminal 3 includes a screen, the words forming the unique identifier can be communicated during step 110 without transcription into an audio track, and are then displayed on the screen of the terminal 3.

In the case where the user proposed an identifier when sending the request to create a conference in step 90 (in the case of a permanent conference), this step makes it possible to confirm with the user who proposed the 'identifying that the latter is associated with the conference, and confirming the creation of the virtual room.

Once the identifier has been communicated to a terminal 3, the user can communicate it to the other users having to join the conference, by any mode of communication (oral broadcast, sms, email, etc.). This communication must be carried out quickly enough so that other users can log in with this identifier before the expiration of the identifier's validity period. The fact that the identifier has a limited number of words nevertheless makes it easy to remember and to communicate it easily to other users.

In addition, the server 1 advantageously connects the user terminal 3 from which the request to create the conference originates to the conference thus created, so as to avoid the terminal having to perform other steps to connect to the conference.

With reference to FIG. 2b, the method then comprises a step of connection 200 to a conference call from another user terminal 3 '.

This method comprises a first step 210 during which the user terminal 3 'establishes a connection with the server. This connection is for example established by dialing a telephone number or a unique URL to access the server. Once this connection has been established, the user of terminal 3 ’may be asked to provide a conference call identifier to be connected to a conference, for example by means of a recorded message.

The connection method 200 then comprises a step 220 during which a voice sequence pronounced by the user of the terminal 3 ’is recorded by the microphone of the terminal 3’. As a variant, this step can take place before the connection established with the server.

This voice sequence is then transmitted 230 to the server 1, and transposed 240 into text. Preferably, the transposition of the voice sequence into text is implemented by the computer 10 of the server, once it has been transmitted to the server. As a variant, this transposition could be carried out by terminal 3 ’and the text would be transmitted to the server, but this variant implies more functionalities, and therefore constraints, for terminal 3’.

The server 1 then compares, in a step 250, the text obtained with all of the valid conference call identifiers. If a correspondence is detected between the text and a valid identifier, the server 1 connects the terminal 3 'to the conference corresponding to the identifier during a step 260.

The proposed method, based on the use of two words as a conference call identifier, allows a user to easily understand and remember an identifier, and to use voice as a man / machine interface, which reduces handling and attention of the user. In addition, the connection to a conference call is established on the basis of the conference identifier, so a user only has the telephone number allowing him to connect to the server.

In order to further simplify the manipulations to be performed on the part of a user, it is possible to envisage providing a user terminal with dedicated functionalities making it possible to connect directly to the server 1 for managing conference calls to create or join a conference call. This terminal is connected to the server by IP, for example by means of a wifi or ethernet connection.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the server 1 can be accessible by two separate interfaces, a first being dedicated to sending conference creation requests, and the other being dedicated to connecting to a conference. To simplify the connection to each of the interfaces, with reference to FIG. 3, a conference terminal 3 can include a command interface (for example a button) 33 “create” configured to allow access from the terminal to the first interface, and a command interface (for example a button) 34 "join" configured to allow access from the terminal to the second interface.

Pressing either button causes the terminal to access either interface, respectively. In particular, activating the first command interface triggers the connection to the first interface of server 1 and sends a request to create a conference to the server. The activation of the second interface can typically trigger the recording of a voice sequence of the user (conference identifier), the connection to the second interface of server 1 and the sending to the server of the voice sequence to join a conference.

According to another example shown in FIG. 4, a software application can be installed on a mobile phone or a tablet, comprising an interface element “create” configured to connect the terminal to the first interface, and an interface element “ join ”configured to connect the terminal to the second interface.

Claims (15)

1. Method for creating an audio or video conference and authorizing participants to join the conference, implemented by a system comprising a server (1) and at least one terminal (3) comprising a microphone (30), the terminal (3) being further adapted to communicate with the server (1) via a communication network (2), the method comprising the steps of: - creation (100) by the server of an audio or video conference, the conference being associated with a unique identifier, - connection (200) of at least one terminal (3, 3d to the audio or video conference, characterized in that the unique identifier of the audio or video conference comprises at least two words, and in that the connection (200 ) from terminal to audio or video conference includes: - reestablishment (210) of a connection between the terminal (3, 3 ’) and the server (1), - a recording (220), by the microphone of the terminal (3, 3 ’), of a voice sequence of a user of the terminal, - the transcription (240) of the vocal sequence into text, and - the comparison (250), by the server (1), of the text with at least one conference identifier, and - if the text corresponds to the identifier of a conference, the connection (260) of the terminal to the conference. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein each word of the unique identifier of the conference is randomly drawn from a library of words. 3. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the conference is created upon receipt by the server of a request (90) from a terminal (3). 4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the conference identifier is valid for a fixed period. 5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the identifier is of permanent validity, and said identifier comprises a sentence of more than two words. 6. Method according to claim 5, comprising, before the creation (100) of the conference by the server, a step of sending a request (90) for creating a conference by a terminal (3) to the server, the request further comprising an identifier proposed by the terminal (3), and the step (100) of creation of the conference by the server further comprises a verification, by the server, of the availability of the identifier proposed, and, if the proposed identifier is available, the association of the identifier proposed with the conference. 7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, the terminal (3, 3 ') further comprising a loudspeaker (31), and the method further comprising a step of sending a creation request (90) of a conference by a terminal (3) to the server (1), and a step (110) of communication of the identifier of the conference to the terminal (3) by the server (1), in which the identifier is converted (111) in a sound track stating the two words, and broadcast (113) through the terminal speaker. 8. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the identifier is converted (111) into a sound track by the server (1), and said sound track is transmitted (112) by the server to the terminal. 9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which each connection of a terminal to the conference is established in VolP. 10. Audio or video conference management server (1), comprising: - a memory (11) in which a library of words is recorded, - a computer (10), - at least one communication interface (12) with user terminals (3, 3 ’) by at least one communication network (2), the server being adapted for: - transpose (240) a voice sequence of a user of a terminal into text, - compare (250) the text with at least one conference identifier comprising at least two words included in the word library, and - connect (260) the terminal to a conference if the text corresponds to the identifier of the conference. 11. Server (1) according to claim 10, the server being further adapted to generate (100) an audio or video conference associated with a unique identifier comprising at least two words included in the word library. 12. Server (1) according to claim 11, the server being further adapted to generate a unique conference identifier by random selection of two words chosen from the word library, and to convert the identifier into a sound track. 13. Computer program product, comprising code instructions for implementing an audio or video conference creation method, and code instructions for implementing an audio conference participation method or video, when each method is implemented by a processor of a terminal, the conference creation method comprising: - sending a request (90) for creating a conference to a server, - receiving (110) a conference identifier comprising at least two words, and - the display of the words of the identifier on a screen of the terminal or the reading (113) of a sound track stating the words of the identifier by a speaker of the terminal, and the method of participating in a conference comprising: - recording (220) of a voice sequence by a microphone of the terminal, - connecting to the server (210) and sending said voice sequence (230) to the server. 14. Audio or video conference terminal (3, 3 ’), comprising: - a loudspeaker (30), - a microphone (31), and the audio or video conference terminal being adapted to connect to a server via a communication network, and being configured to implement a method of creating an audio or video conference comprising: - sending a request (90) for creating a conference to a server, - receiving a conference identifier (110) comprising at least two words, and - the display of the words of the identifier on a screen of the terminal or the reading (113) of a sound track stating the words of the identifier by a loudspeaker of the terminal, and and to implement a method of participation in a conference including: - recording (220) of a voice sequence by a microphone of the terminal, - the connection (210) to the server (1) and the sending (230) of said voice sequence to the server. 15. Terminal (3.3 ′) according to the preceding claim, further comprising a first command interface, configured so that its activation triggers the sending of a conference creation request to a server, and a second interface for command, configured so that its activation triggers the steps of recording (220) a voice sequence, of connection (210) to the server (1) and of sending (230) of said voice sequence to the server.